Anthony Walker Jr. returns to Miami after career-threatening injuries in Cleveland

There was a deafening sound of groans coming from the Miami Dolphins practice field midway through Friday’s hot, and exhausting practice.

Cornerback Nik Needham had just tipped a Skylar Thompson pass into the air and Anthony Walker Jr. was presented an opportunity to create a momentum changing play for Miami’s defense, which was struggling to contain the Dolphins offense for the first time all camp on Friday, during the first of two 11-on-11 periods.

Walker, the Dolphins’ new free agent addition, extended his hands and dove on the sod to get underneath the football. But instead of corralling the interception and triggering a celebration, his fellow defenders showcased their disappointment and annoyance.

“Right now he’s the first pick for the beach volleyball team because his bump, set, spike is leading the league,” said Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel playfully.

With Dolphins starting inside linebacker David Long just coming off the physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury, the Dolphins are counting on Walker Jr. to step up and create pivotal plays.

This isn’t anything new for Walker Jr., as he has previously played significant roles in his NFL career, serving as a starting middle linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns before arriving in South Florida.

Through 85 career games, 75 of which he’s been a starter, Walker Jr. has tallied 513 tackles and 185 tackles for loss.

However, his best statistical seasons came over a half a decade ago in 2018 and 2019 for the Indianapolis Colts, where he had a combined 229 tackles and 16 tackles for loss.

These days, as the 28 year old inches closer to 30, he’s been slowed by injuries. Last year in his third season with Cleveland Browns he battled through injuries all season.

While a missed interception in a low-stakes practice is insignificant in the grand scheme, the veteran linebacker still punished himself by dropping to the ground and doing ten push ups before the next play. It is a norm his father instilled in him at a young age as his football coach during childhood.

While the older Walker, who shares the same name, is normally busy preparing the Monsignor Pace High School football team for the upcoming season, on Friday he was able to see his son practice for the first time since he went to college over a decade ago.

“It’s a blessing to be able to watch him live again in practice,” said Walker Sr., who coached him in high school. “I’ve been to games throughout the years, but he hasn’t been home in South Florida in over ten years. So it’s awesome I get to be able to watch him [practice].”

While Walker Sr. has coached his son for nearly his entire life, he no longer considers himself qualified to give his son pointers.

“A lot of times he’s helping me nowadays with the high school team,” Walker Sr. said. “[He gives me] tips and things I can do offensively. His defensive mindset helps give me a lot of tips with playcalling.”

The two are still close to this day, as Walker Jr. currently lives with his father in his childhood home.

While both father and son are grateful for their reunion back in their hometown, it almost didn’t happen.

After encountering the aforementioned injuries the last three seasons, the Browns didn’t re-sign Walker Jr. However, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier signed the seven-year veteran to a one-year deal worth $2 million hoping that he’d fortify to fill a more limited role at inside linebacker.

“At the end of last season, I thought it would probably be closer to the end [of my career] with the injury,” said Walker Jr., who faced a knee injury that required surgery last season and suffered a torn quad the season before. “[Being with the Dolphins] is an incredible opportunity just knowing the game was almost taken from me.”

“As you get to this age and the back end of your career, [football] becomes more and more mental,” the 28-year old Walker Jr. said. “The day I stop loving the daily grind is the day you guys won’t see me out here anymore.”

Throughout the offseason, the veteran linebacker has received rave reviews from his coaches and teammates, complimenting him on his leadership skills, work ethic and his ability to understand complex defenses. This praise is nothing new for Walker Jr., who was named a captain for the Cleveland Browns in 2022 and 2023.

“[It is] very rare that I get feedback so early in the offseason from so many people [saying], ‘I f-ing love this guy!’ ” McDaniel said. “He won his teammates over by how he goes about business in the offseason. He’s been able to execute some fundamentals and techniques at such a high level that he’s really helped the rest of the group in a couple situations.”

During OTAs, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel showed the Northwestern University product clips of Fred Warner to demonstrate how a Mike linebacker should control the middle of the field. It is certainly something that Walker Jr. will be tasked with doing now that Long is out for an undisclosed period of time. The younger Walker has always lacked the athleticism and size of some of the NFL’s most elite linebackers, but made up for it with his instincts and anticipation in run and pass support. Indeed, Walker Jr.’s football IQ should limit the impact of his previous injuries on his play this season.

The former Colts and Browns linebacker is part of a group of veteran free agent defensive signees the Dolphins brought to the team this offseason, which also includes Jordan Poyer and Calais Campbell.

The team is banking on this battle-tested experience paying off in December and January, where the Dolphins have struggled the past two years.

But can the seasoned linebacker manage another season without being plagued by injuries? Only time can tell.